One of the biggest deals in NBA history occurred in the wee hours of Sunday morning, with the Los Angeles Lakers trading Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. The deal, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, includes the Utah Jazz.
Use any of the words or phrases that you want. Shocking. Confusing. Earth-shattering. Whatever the word, it does not seem to suffice for big of a deal this is.
The Mavericks front office according to reports wanted a defensive-minded player, and according to ESPN’s Tim McMahon were upset with Doncic’s conditioning and weight. They are getting an All-NBA defender Davis. But going back to Los Angeles is a superstar who just led you to an unlikely Finals’ appearance.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic teaming up is akin to a modern version of Magic and Bird teaming up, two exquisite playmakers who are ultimate showmen. The Lakers’ playmaking and scoring takes a serious uptick, while their interior defense and defense overall takes a serious hit. Austin Reaves and in particular sharpshooter rookie Dalton Knecht are bound to get numerous easy looks from downtown. While the Laker defense will take a hit, they might become the league’s highest scoring team.
Davis heads to Dallas to anchor a defense that includes big guys Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, though Lively is out 2-3 months with a foot fracture. Doncic himself has not played since December 27 due to a calf injury.
When we look at Laker history, there are two other big deals that stand out.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was acquired on June 16, 1975 from the Milwaukee Bucks along with Walt Wesley, for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Junior Bridgeman, and Dave Meyers.
Winters was a 2-time all-star in Milwaukee (1976, 1978) and Bridgeman played for the Bucks through the 1983-84 season, though the forward averaged 13.9 points per game in a Buck uniform and was never an all-star.
On July 9, 1968, the Lakers acquired Wilt Chamberlain from the Philadelphia 76ers for Darrall Imhoff, Jerry Chambers, and Archie Clark.
Imhoff averaged 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds as a Sixer in two seasons. Chambers was dealt to the Phoenix Suns, never playing a game with the 76ers. Clark was an all-star in ‘68 with the Lakers, and played four seasons in Philadelphia averaging 18.2 points per game.
Those were big man deals. Kareem was yet to enter his prime and Wilt was at the tail end of his. The Lakers won titles with Kareem of course, and one with Wilt.
From a guard standpoint, the Lakers have never pulled off a deal like this during the season. From a league-wide perspective, there have been big deals, like Moses Malone going to Philadelphia from Houston in 1982, providing the 76ers with the final puzzle piece to take care of the Lakers in the ‘83 Finals. In 1976, the 76ers acquired Julius Erving from the New York Nets. In Erving’s first year in Philadelphia, the 76ers made the NBA Finals, losing to Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Doncic took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season, and health permitting the Lakers will be right in the mix to get there or even win this season.
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